North Somerset

The poet, who completed most of his best work while living in Nether Stowey, was on a walking tour of Somerset when he met Thomas Poole, another important resident whose legacy is everywhere in the village and who became a lifelong friend.  For a while, William Wordsworth rented a mansion nearby and the two poets walked miles together across the hills and along the route to Lynmouth now known as Coleridge Way.

As if the National Trust owned Coleridge Cottage were not enough, Nether Stowey is packed with other gems including a ruined Norman castle, a Victorian town clock and lock up, cobbled pavement, a stream running down the side of the street and a clutch of ancient cottages.

Today Nether Stowey is divided in two by the A39 but it does mean there is less traffic in the centre. Across the road from the main village is the imposing Stowey Court with a stone gazebo built into its outer wall and St Mary’s Church with its substantial memorial to Thomas Poole. Stowey Estate belonged to Lord Audley in 1343 but fell into ruin for several hundred years before being completed. A hoard of silverware was found nearby thought to date from the Civil War. Also on this side of the village is Cricketer Farm Shop and cafe.